I have asked ZF for a tender for the reproduction of the “longer” fifth gear for the gearbox S5 18/3. All Fiat Dino 2400 Spider and 2400 Coupé were equipped with this gearbox, and the FIAT 130 Sedan and Coupé have this gearbox as well, however with different gear ratios on the first, second and third gear. Also, some Maserati models such as the 1980ies Biturbo and the Opel Kadett GT have this gearbox, with some substantial changes of the case, however.

The “longer” set of gear wheels (ZF Nr. 1255.204.560 + 1255.303.078) has a gear ratio of 1:0.795 whereas the standard fifth gear has 1:0.84. This reduces - at same speed - the number of engine revolutions/min by about 800. Alternatively, if you want to exploit this, your car runs faster . I personally like the reduction in revolutions.

It’s now about to find sufficient Dinoisti and passionates of the FIAT 130 modells to order an as high as possible number of gear wheel sets to benefit from a low price per item.

Easy to be observed that the price per set is declining degressively. I am assuming that ordering more that 50 sets will result in a price approaching the EUR 400, but I doubt that we will achieve a price below EUR 400.

Re the procedure: I offer to take care of the coordination of the ordering process but I will neither buy these gears on my own account and resell nor do any prefinancing of a production. I would collect your expressions of interest kindly requested by no later than 20th May 2016 to be sent to my email account lange_georg (at) yahoo dot de. I would then communicate the number of sets to be produced (determining the price per set) to any prospect for final confirmation and then hand over the invoicing to ZF. I assume that they either will request a complete upfront payment or a deposit.

Any your questions are welcome, please post these on this site or send me an email.

I've recently bought a set from ZF (the last set they had on stock from their last production run). The price per set for a production of 20 sets here is already below what I've paid.I've not yet installed the gear set. I'll wait until I have to open the gearbox anyway.

http://www.gr-box.sm in San Marino have the 0.795 ratio 5.gear road kit in stock. This is to my best knowledge made by GR-BOX them self, and not ZF. But GR BOX seems to be a well renowned company at the www.Mean to remember a price at around 500EUR.

Wayne Lee at www.motorsporttransmissions.com is the expert on this box, he maintains many of the historic Group 4 Escorts and Sunbeam Lotuses, which also use the S5. He rebuilt mine with the longer 5th and this is how it looked when it came back, like a new box.